Pooch Pageant fun for canines, owners

Steve Smith, Staff WriterReminder News

Hubbard Green was temporarily a second "bark park" in town, as several young Glastonbury residents brough their canine pals to the 31st annual Pooch Pageant, presented by the Glastonbury Parks and Recreation Department on July 21.

The pooches competed in the smallest, largest, best dressed, best trick, best behaved and best looking categories.

Judges were Glastonbury Civil Preparedness Director Bobby Dibella (a veteran judge of the pageant for 29 of its years), Civil Preparedness Deputy Director Mike Roberts, and Parks and Recreation staffer Linda Cadario. The children paraded their dogs in front of the judges, who measured, observed and made their notes, and ultimately made the tough decisions.

Eleven-year old Selena's pointer Johnny was dressed as a doctor. She explained that costume choice was because Johnny is a therapy dog who helps rescue other dogs. "He helps my mother and I rehabilitate dogs with behavioral issues, who we foster through Protectors of Animals," she said. "Johnny also visits convalescent homes and cheers up elderly and sick people. Johnny makes everybody happy."

The winner for biggest dog was the 44-inch-long Labrador retrieever named Bonnie, and her owners Natalia, 5, and Keira, 8. Bonnie also won Best Costume, for dressing up as a "hot dog."

The Best-Behaved category went to Selena and Johnny. Elena, 12, and her Lhasa Apso "Angel" won the Smallest category.

Connor, 5 and his golden retreiver Brodie won the Best in Show award, after also winning the Best Looking and Best Trick categories.

Dibella said that, again this year, the dogs were impressive and showed the hard work of their young owners.

"We had a great array of canines and their children masters," he said. "The children were enthusiastic, as well as the dogs. The dogs seemed to sense there was a contest, so they behaved the best they could. It's a great show that the town of Glastonbury's Parks Department puts on every year. The kids and parents get a kick out of it."

Especially noticeable, Dibella said, was the grooming.

"The dogs this year were exceptionally groomed," he said. "You can tell that the kids and parents worked on them. I know one of them got their hair brushed all day today. There's a lot of work that goes into it, on behalf of the parents, the kids and the Parks Department."